BIR raps Batangas lotto firm for P959M unpaid tax

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion charges against a Batangas-based small town lottery (STL) firm before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for failure to pay P959 million in income taxes.

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This is the first tax evasion case under the Duterte administration.

Named in the complaint were Benedicto Bulatao and Rolando Montecillo, former presidents of Batangas Enhanced Technology Systems Inc. (BETSI), including its treasurer Jessie Cantos.

BETSI, with outlet in San Antonio, Santo Tomas town, is an authorized agent of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and engaged in STL business through the sale and distribution of lottery tickets and those for other games of chance.

The complaint was filed before Justice Undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr.

In filing the case, the BIR alleged that BETSI has “substantially underdeclared its correct taxable income” by P3.61 million, P10.66 million, P14.05 million, P25.54 million, P52.03 million, P45.73 million, P28.38 million, P58.75 million and P128.38 million from 2007 up to 2015.

All together, BETSI incurred a total income tax liability of P199.02 million; value-added tax amounting to P136.55 million; and documentary stamp tax of P624.39 million.

“As a consequence of its acts and omissions, BETSI, together with its responsible corporate officers, was held liable to pay an estimated aggregate tax liability in the total amount of P959.96 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests,” the BIR said.